Follow-up talks to put ‘flesh on bone’ of Japan deals
The Japanese prime minister will leave Canberra having secured new agreements covering defence, critical minerals and energy supplies during talks with his Australian counterpart.
At the meeting, overshadowed by the war in the Middle East and China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, Sanae Takaichi and Anthony Albanese agreed to strengthen economic and military ties between the two countries.
The duo compiled a list of six Australian gallium, magnesium, fluorite, nickel, cobalt and other rare earth projects in which Japan is willing to invest in a bid to shift the metals supply chain away from China.
Trade Minister Don Farrell said he would travel to Japan within two weeks to “get the flesh and bone” of the agreements after the leaders met in Canberra.
“Japan is a huge investor in our critical mineral projects and we want that to continue and actually grow,” he told Sky News on Monday.
Shiro Armstrong, director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre, told AAP the mining agreement was gradual but showed some progress towards greater Japanese involvement in Australian projects.
“This signals more government support for this sector from the Japanese side,” he said.
Ms Takaichi is scheduled to leave Australia on Tuesday morning.
During diplomatic talks held in the country’s capital, leaders also agreed to consult on “contingencies related to economic security” and evaluate ways to reduce risks.
Professor Armstrong said the joint statement did not target any particular country, although Ms Takaichi criticized China’s behavior in the region more harshly than her predecessors.
“China is a big factor in the region, but so is the United States,” he said.
“Economic pressure is increasingly real, and it’s not just coming from one country.”
Opposition sector spokesman Andrew Hastie said it was important to build ties with countries like Japan as military tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific.
“We will not criticize our government for establishing partnerships with key Asian countries,” he told ABC News on Monday afternoon.
“It’s really important to have Australia at the table of nations.”
During her trip, Ms Takaichi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial and visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
